Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Tyabb–Somerville recycled water scheme

Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (19:01): (532) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Water, and the action I seek is to invite the minister down to my electorate to meet with Hastings locals to discuss the amazing recycled water opportunities we have in my electorate. Currently the Eastern Treatment Plant discharges about 370 million litres per day of high-quality recycled water at Gunnamatta. This is the equivalent of filling the MCG every four days via a large pipeline running the length of the peninsula. I do not have to tell anyone what a terrible waste this is. This volume is anticipated to increase 30 per cent by 2050 to 474 million litres per day.

Across the Mornington Peninsula agriculture contributes $225 million in gross value and represents 11 per cent of the local economy, providing over 5000 jobs or 12.5 per cent of total employment. Tyabb, Somerville and Baxter are a significant part of this. Access to recycled water will grow the economic potential of the local agricultural sector. The Tyabb–Somerville–Baxter region is critical to supplying Melbourne with vegetables and nursery plants. The benefits extend beyond farms. Infrastructure investment will supply water to community sporting and recreational grounds that require water throughout the year, supply our emergency services with water across a bushfire-prone area and even recycle water in developments for watering gardens and flushing toilets. Tapping into that recycled water would greatly increase our resilience to climate change by droughtproofing sustainable food production and growing the local nursery and garden industry. I look forward to the minister coming down to my electorate to meet and talk with locals and stakeholders and see the opportunities that the Tyabb–Somerville recycled water scheme offers not just our community but the whole of Victoria.